CONTINUOUS FIGHTING IN THE WEST

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13754, 13 November 1916, Page 6

CONTINUOUS FIGHTING IN THE WEST

..CORRESPONDENT'S AEROPLANE VISION OP WEST FRONT. LESSON TO BRITISH OPTIMISTS, GERMANS' CALM AND METHODICAL PREPARATIONS. (Australian and New Zealand Calile Association.) Received November 12,5.5 p,m, LONDON, November 11. The Morning Post correspondent with the British Army says ' "If the optimists who preach that Germany's end is imminent, had an aeroplane vision of Picardy, iliey would moderate their prophecies. The Germans, undismayed by four months' defeats, are labouring calmly and methodically to strengthen their grip upon France. The recent call to arms of the entire German people is already having an effect in the field. The Germans ask for nothing better than to be let alone during the winter months, in order to reorganise their defences. More large guns have already been concentrated on the Somnie. The supply of munitions has been increased and accelerated. Fighting and scouting aeroplanes -have been manufactured in large numbers. Germany is endeavouring to recover air supremacy. . Since,the enemy .were driven out of Piers and Gueudecourt they have built up a strong position with ever-deepening dug-outs, ■ plentiful communications, and three-deep rows of wire and other entanglements and pitfialls. These are not yet comparable to the massive, fortresslike works along the original triple line, nevertheless there is a strong bulwark shielding Bapaume. Further back the entire countryside is in the hands of engineers, sowing machine guns with a liberal' hand, and transforming fields, hamlets and woods into the foundations of a new battlefield. Miniature tramlines and light railways are spreading ' everywhere. Part of the muddled confusion in the German lines, following the first attacks in July was'due to the lack of adequate communications, making, it impossible to supply ammunition rapidly. The German commanders are not going to risk a similar predicament. * ANOTHER VIEW OF THE FUTURE. £ FEAR AND DEJECTION CROWING AMONG GERMANS. ALLIES MUST NOT RELAX VIGILANCE AND EFFORTS. (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.) Received November 12, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, November 11. Mr Pereival.Gibbon, writing to The Daily Chronicle says:— Among the German armies on the West front, dejection and fear of defeat are growing, but there was never a moment when it would be more dangerous to relax our vigilance and efforts. One distinguished officer, whose duty it is to gauge the enemy strength, says: "They are preparing to put forth every ounce of strength. If we beat them they are finished. Our only risk in the forthcoming crisis will be the overestimating of what we are already doing. We cannot afford to slacken our efforts for an instant." FRANCE'S SECOND. WAR LOAN. OVER FOUR HUNDRED MILLION SUBSCRIBED. (Australian and New Zealand Calile Association.) PARIS, November 10. The war loaii realised £454,000,000, of which sum, £160,000,000 is in gold,

OFFICIAL REPORTS FSOI BELLIGERENTS. ' CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS OF VARIOUS OPERATIONS. AERIAL BATTLES OF UNUSUAL FIERCENESS. (Australian and Now Zealand Cable Association and Reuter), Received November 12, 5.5 p.m.' PARIS, November. 11, An official communique says: There have been violent ( artillery actions north of the Somme. The enemy, using flame- \ wafer, attacked in ..the vicinity of Deniecourt, but was forced i back with the bloodiest of losses. • Plight Lieutenant Guynemer brought down his twentieth and twenty-first machines. Three others were also brought down. We dropped two tons of bombs on the enemy positions on the Somme. A French aeroplane' flew over the Rhine and bombed and severely damaged the station at (Minberg. (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter). Received November 12,5.5 : p.m, r ; LONDON, November 11.; General Sir Douglas Haig reports: Last night the easterly position of Regina Trench, the continuation of the trench captured on the 21st of October, was captured and secured along a distance of one thousand yards, despite.the enemy's barrage. (Australian and New Zealand Oable Association and Reuter), Received November 12,5,5 p.m. ! LONDON, November 11. A German communique says: The British succeeded in penetrating one of our first line trenches, north-east of Oourceletto. House to house fighting occurred near -the church at Sailly-Saillisel. The French gained small advantages, otherwise the attacks failed. Ten enemy aeroplanes were brought down yesterday. (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter). Received November 12,5,5 p.m. AMSTERDAM, November 10, A German official features the activity of German airmen on the Somme and claims that they shot down seventeen ■ aeroplanes. The High Commissioner reports : LONDON, November 11 (11.5 p.m.) A British official message says: Sixty prisoners were taken yesterday and last night. Effective bombing raids were made on the enemy's hutments, aerodrome headquarters, and trains. Two trains were hit and a third fired. Several explosions followed. In numerous airfights three of the enemy's machines were destroyed, a fourth landed in our lines, and others were brought down damaged. One of our machines is missing.